Alleging caste bias in Mandi, Cong walks out

Pratibha Chauhan

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2

The issue of discrimination with people belonging to the Scheduled Castes once again echoed in the Vidhan Sabha today, resulting in acrimonious exchanges and the Opposition Congress staging a walkout.

The issue of discrimination with a person belonging to the SC community in Balh area of Mandi was raised by Congress legislator Nand Lal through point of order even before Question Hour could begin in the Vidhan Sabha. “Yet again a person from the SC community was victimised in Balh as the food prepared by him for the deity was thrown away and utensils were broken,” said Nand Lal.

He said it was due to the insensitivity of the government on the issue that such incidents are being reported every now and then. “It is painful to see that even after 70 years of independence, people are subjected to such discrimination. I want to know why an FIR has not been registered and no further action taken,” he remarked.

Replying to Congress’s concern on the issue, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he fully agreed that such incidents based on caste discrimination were highly condemnable.

“It is together that we all must make efforts to put an end to such social discrimination based on caste,” he urged the house. He said further action in the case will be taken after the accused submits his caste certificate.

He further said that stern steps are being taken to ensure that there is no repetition of such incidents.

He said a Congress party office bearer Dile Ram has been arrested for discriminating with SC community persons during community feast in Mandi Shivratri.

Even as the Chief Minister was giving the reply, the Congress members were on their feet raising anti-government slogans. The BJP legislators also retaliated with counter sloganeering following which the Congress MLAs staged a walk out.

The Chief Minister lashed out at the Congress for staging a walk out only to make headlines.

“Frustration was writ large on the faces of opposition, which is behaving very irresponsibly, using abusive and derogatory language. But wee too are not bound to listen to such objectionable language”, he retorted. He said the only endeavour of the Congress is to stage a walk out rather than raise important public issues in the house.

Speaker Vipin Parmar said there was no attempt to muzzle the voice of the Opposition and despite not having received any notice, Congress MLA was allowed to speak.

He also clarified that a Point of Order is raised for violation or non adherence to the rules and not for debate or discussion.